ISLAMABAD, March 29: Industries and Production Minister Liaquat Jatoi has asked the authorities of Heavy Mechanical Complex (HMC) to manufacture sugar plants for Bangladesh.

The minister visited the HMC at Taxila on Saturday and said a soft-term loan of $5 million had been offered by Pakistan to Bangladesh for modernization of its sugar plants during his visit to Bangladesh, last week.

More orders for manufacturing of sugar plants, he pointed out, would be placed to the HMC. He said the government would also provide further $5 million to Bangladesh in this regard.

He underlined the need for modifications in the HMC to manufacture modern heavy machinery. Mr Jatoi stressed the need for strengthening the manufacturing base, more industrialization and more investment in the country for rapid progress. He said that due to consistency in the policies of the government, all the economic indicators were improving.

According to an official announcement, he asked the administration to revise salaries of the employees and announce bonus and other fiscal benefits for them.

The minister directed that there should not be any downsizing in the HMC and that the performance of the Complex should be improved by getting orders from the public and private sectors.

He expressed his dissatisfaction over facilities being provided to the employees working in the various foundries and chemical workshops in the HMC. He also expressed his concern over the poor quality and environment of the complex canteen.

Mr Jatoi directed the HMC managing director to improve all facilities, particularly canteen for employees. He said that he would again visit the HMC shortly to see whether there were certain significant improvement in the environment.

He said the government was taking steps to get orders for the HMC to make it viable and profitable organization. “This will also address the unemployment problems.”

Earlier, the minister was given briefing by managing director Anwar Janjua and chairman, State Engineering Corporation, Mian Sohail Aslam. They apprised the minister that the Complex has capacity to manufacture complete sugar and cement plants. They said despite facing financial crisis, the Complex now